Hands free, controlled autofill for a dispenser

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9828228-B2
Application number	US-201615349604-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 11, 2016
Priority date	Apr 27, 2007
Publication date	Nov 28, 2017
Grant date	Nov 28, 2017

Abstract

A dispensing system includes one or more digital image capture devices for capturing images in a dispenser well and a digital image analyzer operatively coupled to the digital image capture device(s) for analyzing the images for use in regulating a dispensing operation. The digital image analyzer evaluates digital images captured by the digital image capture device(s) to determine various characteristics of a container placed in the dispensing well, such as the height and position of the container.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of performing a dispensing operation comprising:
exposing a camera to a dispensing assembly; and
performing a dispensing operation based on at least one image obtained from the camera, wherein the at least one image is of a container positioned for the dispensing operation.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one image is taken from within a well of the dispensing assembly.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: determining a height of the container from the at least one image.

4. A method of performing a dispensing operation comprising:
exposing a camera to a dispensing assembly;
performing a dispensing operation based on at least one image obtained from the camera;
obtaining at least one additional image from an additional camera; and
performing the dispensing operation based on images from both the camera and the additional camera.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising:
capturing the at least one image from an upper location; and
capturing the at least one additional image from a lower location.

6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising:
analyzing the at least one image to determine a height of a container positioned for the dispensing operation; and
analyzing the at least one additional image to determine a position of the container.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: performing the dispensing operation with the dispensing assembly being incorporated in an appliance.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the appliance is a refrigerator and the dispensing operation includes dispensing at least one of water and ice into the container.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: automatically stopping the dispensing operation when the container is filled to a pre-specified level or volume.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising: illuminating the container during at least a portion of the dispensing operation.

11. The method of claim 2 , further comprising: sensing movement within the well based on multiple images from the camera.

12. A dispenser assembly for selectively performing a dispensing operation from an appliance comprising:
a dispensing outlet for dispensing into a container;
a camera, exposed to the dispensing outlet, for obtaining at least one image used to regulate the dispensing operation; and
a second camera for capturing at least one additional image for controlling the dispensing operation.

13. The dispenser assembly according to claim 12 , wherein the second camera is located lower than the first camera in the appliance.

14. The dispenser assembly according to claim 12 , wherein the appliance is a refrigerator from which is dispensed at least one of water and ice.

15. The dispenser assembly according to claim 14 , wherein the dispenser assembly is provided in a door of the refrigerator.

16. The dispenser assembly according to claim 15 , wherein the camera is mounted in a dispensing well provided on the door.

17. The dispenser assembly according to claim 12 , further comprising:
a digital image analyzer configured to evaluate the at least one image to determine at least one characteristic of the container.

18. The dispenser assembly according to claim 17 , wherein the at least one characteristic is a height or position of the container.

Assignees

• Whirlpool Co

Inventors

• Chase Kevin M
• Janke Brian P
• Ashrafzadeh Farhad
• Kanchanavally Shreecharan
• Kerner James

Classifications

• B67D1/0878

  Safety, warning or controlling devices (B67D1/12 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F25D2700/06

  Sensors detecting the presence of a product · CPC title

• B67D1/0888

  Means comprising electronic circuitry (e.g. control panels, switching or controlling means) · CPC title

• B67D1/1236 Primary

  comprising means for detecting the size of vessels to be filled · CPC title

• F25C5/005

  Mechanical Engineering · mapped topic